The Wool Food Mama

Taste the rainbow

Happy 6th birthday Augusta Bleu....

 

Inspiration for cake came from omnomicon.  She offers a low-fat variety...I went straight out of the box. 

Backpack Troll

Tomorrow is Gusty's first day of kindergarten. *sniff* 

No, just kidding.  kinda.

Actually, I'm thrilled for her, of course.  She is so unbelievably excited to start school.  I mean really excited.  However, despite this week's excitement, last week she sheepishly confided that she's afraid she'll get "homesick tummy" while she's at school. 

Awww sweetie.  So of course, I had to make a baby troll for her backpack.  Something to love and care for on her way to and from school. 

Since it's a surprise, photos under the cover of night....

And just so she knows that this baby is ALL hers...I heart Gusty

Big day tomorrow.  whew. 

Welcome to MY world....

That's what Gusty declared on a recent visit to the local hallmark.

Welcome to MY world!!!

Anybody home?

Artigras 2009

My very first in real life art show and it was an exhaustive, comfort stretching, yet exhilarating day. 

Fortunately, I managed to go into the entire experience without a single expectation....I made a few sales, handed out half of my beloved wooden nickels and my deodorant didn't fail.  I would call the day a smashing success.

We arrived early, as directed, to set up the canopy (great idea brian) and the shelves. The marathon was ending as we arrived and it was fun snaking our stuff through the runners  that were gulping down their bananas.  The air was happy and it was contagious. Then we made mistake number one; we went home to shower. 

The girls and I returned an hour later to set out my wares.  Heh heh heh...note to self...if it's outside, the fair is open.  Gah.  So we madly set stuff out, tied on aprons (thanks mom) and got to work. 

I was stressing it.  Very uncomfortable.  Then Brian showed up and the anxiety faded...

...then more family arrived and I was feeling good, right where I was suppose to be.  Suddenly, it all fit like a glove.

The children found some friends.  Seriously, that is the biggest dog I have ever seen...Harvey.  Most fitting.

They climbed some ropes with the tree guys...

Right on!! MORE family, oh come on Lisa, put the camera away, no one wants to pose...ok,it's your birthday so we'll suck it up.

Ok, we'll play nice. *wink*

And when it began to feel like it was all over before it even started, the artist's happy hour was on.  When we're released from our little white tents to move about freely browsing and chatting up the day...

Michele from Fennel Studio
 

Stacy from Beelighted
 

Amy from Morning Star Arts
 

And Nur, still madly blending his chalk at the days end...

Today it was back to normal, back to ripping weeds, tying up tomato plants and bravely facing a mountain of laundry. The lesbo chicken that thinks she's a rooster...getting on my very.last.nerve. and fresh-from-the-garden pesto for dinner.

Normal, it feels good. 

Much better than show-day feet spent in flip flops....
 

Life is what happens in-between the happy snapshots....

I heard that line in a movie once and I always thought it was rather profound.  Life is what happens between the snapshots.  And sometimes, it's exactly what happens *in* the pictures too.

A night at the ball field, making life happy....
 

poser. lol.

Grancy.  (grandma nancy)

Cousins. A home-run and giant good-sportsmanship gatorade for each this season.  But the question is; which one wears the WRONG baseball cap?

lol.

Can't remember where the laughter came from, just glad it did.

Summer

noun
 1. Lovely and fleeting days.

My camera is new and I'm rough around the edges while I find my way through the instruction booklet.  Not discouraged by my lack of skills with the new camera, I'm trying to capture most of the dog days.....

Silly summer.

Summer house.  *occupied*

Summer treasure.

Summer sand.

The summer son that's rarely seen. Put your seatbelt on.

Morty, summer's kitten.

Off to bed now, for summer calls again tomorrow. 

New wool and a day with Daddio

Brian and Gusty spent the day out and about; running errands, having lunch and general fun.

It's been a while since the two of them have been able to just hang.  It looks like they made up for lost time, Brian sent this to me while they were out....

Easter hats and winter coats.  lol.  This weather stinks.  I'm so ready for spring. 

While they were out, I put the finishing touches on wool eggs and this....

I've been having the best time with new shapes and blending wool with wood.  I think they work perfectly together, especially now that my little wood shop is set up in my craft space. 

The wool is actually sewn down to the wood base.  No glue.  The flowers are empty and can hold a little critter or bug. 

I'll be listing it in my shop in a day or so.  For right now, I need it on the corner of my desk. lol.  I've been turning it and enjoying the smell of the beeswax rub. 

yours in wool,
Katie

Believe. All year long.

I believe in the spirit of Santa.  I really do.  And that's precisely what I tell my children every single year when asked if I believe in Santa.  Of course I believe in the spirit of Santa, little one.  I don't care what your friends say.  I believe and you can too, if you want to. 

Gusty told me early on that she didn't believe. I was....well, I was crushed.  Barely 5 years old and she wanted no part of that.  The toothfairy, now that's a whole 'nuther ball game for her.  Dude is alive and well and leaving silver tokens of proof all over the world.

Back to the Man in Red.  I wanted no part of my youngest not believing.  I get all of the moral arguments and that this topic can be just as hot as any political platform.  That's fine at cocktail parties.  It's not fine between me and my doe-eyed baby girl.

Had my toy making made it look too easy?  Had I taken away the wonder of little elves with pointy ears wielding hammers and tiny tacks?  I had to redeem this.....

The first order of business was giving Santa top billing in the house. 

I worked on him non-stop for 2 days and he was ready to grace the top of our tree by the Saturday after Thanksgiving.

Then, after the tree was decorated we snuggled in to watch The Santa Clause.  Surely, when the sleigh drops down into the North Pole, and the music starts, she'd convert.  nope.

Not to be discouraged, we headed for the mall.  There's a very real and spirited Santa that comes to visit every year.  His beard is snow white, his nose tiny and carefully balancing wire-framed spectacles.  I actually whispered a small prayer before we rounded the Coach Bag store. 

There he was, outside of the little snow village, waving to children and ready with a hug if anyone needed it. 

My little Gusty Bleu stopped dead in her tracks.  I heard her gasp and she stepped behind my legs.  "mama, look.  It's Santa." 

Would you like to go and talk to him?

no.

Ok, we'll walk by and you wave, ok?

The tiniest of waves,  with the biggest of eyes, but he saw her and happily waved back. 

Then on Christmas morning, she bounded into our bedroom, breathless and squeeling,  "Santa knew I wanted a barbie and he got me one!!!" 

Good job Santa.

Believe.  All year long. 

Winter & Shinzi Katoh

The whole world has heard of Katoh haven't they?  I sure hope so. His work is the bomb.  I just wish it was a little easier to find his dish sets.

Several weeks ago, I managed to snag one of his stacking teapots. Oh goodness, I was just thrilled.  It's a little elephant, that stacks on a cup that looks like a circus stand.  Gusty uses it almost every day.  Hot cocoa, oatmeal.  The tea pot is just the right size for her little hands.  She's been practicing pouring hot and cold liquids and doing a pretty good job of it too. Notice the careful attention to not let that lid slip off? Little hands at work, so sweet.

Snow also arrived this past week.  Being good Minnesotans, Brian and Gusty made a frosty....

Dane is back on the ice.  It seems like his last season just ended and already we find ourselves back in the rinks for the weekends. 

I could probably pass on the 8 am practice times, but the hanging with family sure is fun for all of us.   There's always a grandma or aunt or uncle that shows up to keep us company and watch the boy skate. 
Nothing says family like a terrible cup of vending machine coffee and cold bleacher seats.

Learning to sew

Sweet Gusty Bleu learned how to sew today.

A hoop makes sewing so much easier for tiny hands.  Up from the bottom, down from the top.  It wasn't long before she found her pace and I could hear her whispering to herself, "up, down, up, down..."

She made one for me and one for Grancy (which is grandma nancy all smooshed together).  I'll be working on a presentation (pillow, frame) for her first completed Christmas present. 

The child is officially ahead of me on her holiday list.